St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-30
HE TELLS THE TALE.

HE TELLS THE TALE.
trude Haugl. ton. who had reigned for
long perion dis one of the queens of Lon
don society, and who was privileged to
move in that sacred inner circle of fash
ion which has its center in Marlborough
house. By Sedulously improving her
opportunities in this and other ways,
Mrs. Blackie Tanner made enough
friends before the next London season
opened to insure her prosperous debut
in the metropolis, and once launched
there, her beauty, talents, and knOwl-
edge of the world soon did the rest. In
her upward career, however, she owed
nothing to the favor of Lady Gertrude
Haughton. the reason for which shall
now be explained.
By dint of constant circumSpectiOn in
her conduct and company, Lady Ger
trude Haughton had succeeded in
achieving a reputation for rigid eXclu-
siveness which was almost unique; in
fact, by many competent judges, to be
on Lady Gertrude'S visiting list was re-
garded as an even more satisfactory So
cial testimonial than to have kissed the
hand of the sovereign or dined at the
table of the heir apparent. 1t need
hardly be said, therefore, that Lady
Gertrude was not the person to accept
an aspirant for social eminence on a
mere certificate from a Vagrant noble
man that he had picked up this lady on
the deck of an Atlantic steamer, and
found her as charming as she was beau
tiful. Her ladyship made an agreeable
reply to Lord Oldentoff's letter; but she
determined that she would personally
investigate the fair American before
committing herself.
1t was not long before an opportunity
of SO doing presented itself, in the
shape of an invitation to certain Mrs.
Gatherum's, where the new beauty was
to be on view. BY this time Lady Ger
trude'S interest in Mrs. Blackie Tanner
was stimulated by the reports which had
reached her of that lady's marvellous
destinations. She accordingly swallowed
certain antipathieS toward Mrs. Gath
erum and went to inspect the American
wonder. On entering her room her lady
ship was pleased to meet an intimate
acquaintance of her own from the
United States, IN the person of Southern
Polo, the great traveller, who had lately
taken up his abode in this country. This
gentleman Lady Gertrude soon con-
trived to take into corner where they
could discuss the evening without in
terruption.
''She is very beautiful" said her lady
ship, CHANGING toward the spot where
Mrs. Blackie Tanner stood in the center
Of an admlring group. You have
every right to be proud of your country
woman, Mr.. PoiO.;'
There could be no question about this.
Mrs. Blackie Tanner was quite as beau
tiful as rumor represented her. and per-
haps more so; but it was pulling
kind of beauty, too, far removed from
that of the ordinary Yankee
belle, and yet in some undefinable
way Enthusiastically American. She
was dark almost to fault, with a
profusion of the hair which noveiists
call blue-black, and features strongly
marked, but beautifully modelled.
Though above the average hight, she
moved with grace and dignity which,
if gifts of nature, were not those which
are often bestowed on natures children
in the Old World. Her features, too,
had something of the We're de We're re-
pose about them, but this was neutral
lied by the fire and vivacity in her
eyes, which were rather deeply set and
keen as hawks.
at is very unusual type of beauty"
said Lade Gertrude. "Where does she
come fromc''
Il have heard the question asked
dozen times, and know no more than
your ladyship," replied Mr.. Polo. "And
yet, oddly enough, l am convinced that
! have seen her before"
II wish you could tell me where, Mr..
Polo. / am particularly interested in
this lady,"
81 believe / met her somewhere in the
West, but | cannot recall the circum-
stances. My friend Petersen would rec
Ognize her, l have no doubt. l will
send him her photograph. They are to
be had at any shop"
81 hope you will not take that trouble
MT nf hot II.
Lady Gertrude.
But, nevertheless, on the following
morning Mr.. Polo dispatched copy of
the new beauty's photograph to Mr.. Pc
tersen. who had been the companion of
his travels. The truth was that he him.
self felt not little curiosity about Mrs.
Blackie Tanners earlier history, hay
ing watched with some amusement the
success in English society of two or
three of his fair compatriots,
who, like the prophets, had been en-
tircly without honor in their own
country. In the course of a mail or two,
he got his answer, and then he remem-
bered Mrs. Blackic Tanner we'll enough.
He did not convey the whole of his in
formation to Lady Gertrude, but he told
. her enough when they next met to de-
eide her that she could not act upon
Lord OldentOff'S recommendation. Her
ladyghip was even induced to takeea
still stronger step, and one which in
volyed her in no slight Inconvenience
and annoyance.
Lady Gertrude, as already intimated,
was one of those favored m0rtals who
are Qermitted to Eobnob lat appointed